Around the World in 80 Books discussion
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Val's crime around the world chalenge
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EuropeBelgium
Leuven: Jo Claes -Het gewicht van de haat
Brussels: Isabelle Corlier - Ring Est
Antwerp: Michael Kestemont - De witte weduwe
Finland
Kati Hiekkapelto - The Hummingbird
France
Britanny: Jean-Luc Bannalec - Un été à Pont-Aven
Alsace: Jacques Fortier - Chapitre fatal à la cathédrale
Montpellier: Michele Barriere - Meurtres à la Pomme d'or
Germany
Philip Kerr - The Pale Criminal
Greenland
Mads Peder Nordbo - The Girl Without Skin
Iceland
Yrsa Sigurdardottir - My Soul to Take
Ireland
Peter Tremayne - Night of the Lightbringer
Italy
Florence: D.V. Bishop - The Darkest Sin
Napels: Maurizio de Giovanni - I Will Have Vengeance
Po Valley: Valerio Varesi - River of Shadows
Sicily: Andrea Camilleri - August Heat
Netherlands
Amsterdam: Baantjer – De Cock en een dodelijke dreiging
Groningen: Lupko Ellen - Moddergraf
Norway
Jo Nesbo - The Redbreast
Jorn Lier Horst - The Katharina Code
Russia
Yana Vagner - L'Hôtel
Spain
Dolores Redondo - The Invisible Guardian
Sweden
Mari Jungstedt - Unseen
Niklas Natt och Dag - The Wolf and the Watchman
Switzerland
Nicolas Feuz - Horrora borealis
UK
Brighton: Peter James - Need You Dead
Lancashire: E.C.R. Lorac - Fell Murder
Norfolk: Elly Griffiths - The Crossing Places
Oxfordshire: Mavies Doriel Hay - Death on the Cherwell
Scotland: Val McDermid - The Distant Echo
Shetland: Ann Cleeves - White Nights
York: C.J. Sansom - Sovereign
AfricaAlgeria
Ahmed Tiab - Le Français de Roseville
Botswana
Michael Stanley - A Carrion Death
Gabon
Janis Otsiemi - Le chasseur de lucioles
Mali
Moussa Konate - L'affaire des coupeurs de têtes
Ivory Coast
Marguerite Abouet - Commissaire Kouamé. Un si joli jardin
AmericasCanada
Ausma Zehanat Khan - The Unquiet Dead
Chile
Luis Sepulveda - La Fin de l'histoire
Mexico
Yuri Herrera - The Transmigration of Bodies
US
Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen - The Wife Between Us
Attica Locke - Bluebird, Bluebird
AsiaIndia
Harini Nagendra - The Bangalore Detectives Club
Laos
Colin Cotterill - The Coroner's Lunch
South Korea
You-Jeong Jeong - The Good Son
France (Alsace)Jacques Fortier - Chapitre fatal à la cathédrale***
This was a pleasant cozy, locked room historical mystery set in Strasbourg.
Valerie, thanks for the recommendation of Jacques Fortier. I am reading Quinze jours en rouge: Une enquête de Jules Meyer, T1, which I think is the first of the series, set in Strasbourg at the time of the Armistice; excellent background.
CanadaAusma Zehanat Khan - The Unquiet Dead***(*)
This is not your typical crime novel, but a much deeper exploration of the horrors and lasting impacts of the Bosnian war. The book might disappoint readers who are primarily interested in the mystery component but, really, the book is about much so more than that. Trigger warnings though for vivid descriptions of war violence.
South Korea You-Jeong Jeong - The Good Son***
I am not usually a reader of thrillers but I had heard so much about this one that I wanted to give it a try. I thought it was well paced and an 'enjoyable' read and not too gory but as an exploration of the criminal mind it was nothing outstanding.
AlgeriaAhmed Tiab - Le Français de Roseville**
A very disappointing read this one unfortunately. The story was boring and the writing quite poor. The book had appealed to me because it is meant to deal with notions of guilt in the context of the Algerian war of independence, but I thought the book dealt with it in a fairly pedestrian manner.
MongoliaIan Manook - Yeruldelgger**
A crime fiction set in Mongolia. While the story was well crafted and paced (though somewhat predictable), I didn't really enjoy this book. Too much violence and it felt like the author, who is not Mongolian but French, was romanticising the traditional Mongolian way of life. I had expected more of the book since it won two literary prizes in France.
LaosColin Cotterill - The Coroner's Lunch***
This was a fairly enjoyable crime fiction set in Laos. The strengths of the book is that the main character is a fun and endearing personality who doesn't fit the usual tropes of the grumpy male crime detective. I also really enjoyed how Cotterill integrated the political reality of the country in the story. But a major gripe I had with the book was that the plot reveal was too 'tadah, and here is the solution' rather than a slow unpeeling which you as a reader can follow along with. So therefore only a three star read for me.
Oooh, I love this!
Diane wrote: "Oooh, I love this!"Thanks Diane!
SwitzerlandNicolas Fuez - Horrora borealis**
This was a fast-paced thriller set in Switzerland and Lapland about a family drama. While it was a compulsive read I didn't think it was a good book. There was some descriptive sexual violence that was not strictly needed for the story. I also thought the characters were underdeveloped and the plot line had many unbelievable elements to it. A poorly crafted story overall.
Because I love making lists and sharing resources, I created a list of international crime fiction series over on the List Challenges website. It is titled '125 International Crime Fiction Books'. Go check it out if you are looking for some book inspiration!
Thanks for the list! I only have read 12 of the 125, though I’ve read different mysteries by some of the authors on the list. Lots more to catch up on! I like you Africa Literary Canon list, too.
Mome_Rath wrote: "Thanks for the list! I only have read 12 of the 125, though I’ve read different mysteries by some of the authors on the list. Lots more to catch up on! I like you Africa Literary Canon list, too."
Glad you like the list! I hesitated about which books I should pick for each other author - the best one, the most well know one, or the start of the series. In the end I made the arbitrary decision of going with the latter. But if you have read another book in the series I think you can 'cheat' and tick the box :-)
Val, I enjoyed checking out both lists. I love mystery novels but I don't read many these days. I would like to read more from authors around the world and your crime fiction list will help tremendously with that goal.
Laurie wrote: "Val, I enjoyed checking out both lists. I love mystery novels but I don't read many these days. I would like to read more from authors around the world and your crime fiction list will help tremend..."I am so glad you enjoyed both lists Laurie. I have only recently gotten into reading translated crime fiction but am enjoying it very much.
Russia (though the story takes place somewhere in Eastern Europe but it is never specified where exactly)Yana Vagner - L'Hôtel****
SwedenNiklas Natt och Dag - The Wolf and the Watchman****
A very dark book with some very disturbing sections but I loved it. 4.5 stars
IndiaHarini Nagendra - The Bangalore Detectives Club***
A cozy mystery set in 1920s Bangalore. I picked this one up because it was shortlisted for the Crime Writer's Association Dagger Prize for historical crime fiction. The plot was well constructed but the writing and character building were average.
Italy/FlorenceD.V. Bishop - The Darkest Sin****
Another shortlisted book for the Crime Writer's Association Dagger Prize for historical crime fiction, set in 16th century Florence.
Netherlands/GroningenLupko Ellen - Moddergraf***
I was initially quite put off by the very male-gazy representation of the female characters in the book and was ready to dnf it. But then I got completely sucked into the story; the constant shift in character perspective made it a very propulsive read. There is no great writing or character building but it was an entertaining read.
Around the World in 80 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
River of Shadows (other topics)River of Shadows (other topics)
Moddergraf (other topics)
Moddergraf (other topics)
The Darkest Sin (other topics)
More...
1. UK/Brighton: Peter James - Need You Dead (02/19)
2. Netherlands: Baantjer – De Cock en een dodelijke dreiging (02/19)
3. Belgium/Leuven: Jo Claes -Het gewicht van de haat (03/19)
4. UK/Oxfordshire: Mavies Doriel Hay - Death on the Cherwell (03/19)
5. Israel: Kathy Reichs - Cross Bones (03/19)
6. Solomon Islands: G.W. Kent - Devil-Devil (04/19)
7. Ireland: Peter Tremayne - Night of the Lightbringer (05/09)
8. Italy/Napels: Maurizio de Giovanni - I Will Have Vengeance (05/19)
9. Belgium/Brussels: Isabelle Corlier - Ring Est (06/19)
10. Australia: Jane Harper - The Dry (07/19)
11. Germany: Philip Kerr - The Pale Criminal (07/19)
12. UK/York: C.J. Sansom - Sovereign (08/19)
13. France/Brittany: Jean-Luc Bannalec - Un été à Pont-Aven (08/19)
14. US/New York: Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen - The Wife Between Us (10/19)
15. Gabon: Janis Otsiemi - Le chasseur de lucioles (11/19)
16. UK/Norfolk: Elly Griffiths - The Crossing Places (12/19)
17. Denmark (Greenland): Mads Peder Nordbo - The Girl Without Skin (12/19)
18. Mali: Moussa Konate - L'affaire des coupeurs de têtes (04/20)
19. Chile: Luis Sepulveda - La Fin de l'histoire (04/20)
20. UK/Lancashire: E.C.R. Lorac - Fell Murder (05/20)
21. Iceland: Yrsa Sigurdardottir - My Soul to Take (08/20)
22. UK/Scotland: Ann Cleeves - White Nights (09/20)
23. Mexico: Yuri Herrera - The Transmigration of Bodies (10/20)
24. Ivory Coast: Marguerite Abouet - Commissaire Kouamé. Un si joli jardin (10/20)